Amusement device



\v Aug. 14, 1951 L. J. MILBOURN AMUSEMENT DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 1, 1946 7 \M v) Wm m Illl I --L .@---;"rfi--@+- d- I 1| NQ m. Mk I l1 WW, o

INVENTORa LESTER J MILBOURN JWYW ATTORNEYS L. J. MILBOURN AMUSEMENT DEVICE Aug. 14, 1951 3' Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 1, 1946 INVENTOR.

LESTER J MILBOURN ATTORNEYS 1951 L. J. MILBOURN 2,564,542

AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed April 1, 1946 :5 Sheets-Sheet 5 A i -H n WY W Zmventor LESTER J MILBOURN (Ittornegs Patented Aug. 14, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to an amusement device particularly of the carrousel type and includes a circular monorail and one or more vehicles stabilized for operation thereon by a sweep revolvable on a standard concentric with the rail.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide an apparatus of this character that is of safe, simple and inexpensive construction; to provide for control of the vehicle by the occupant or by an attendant remote from the vehicle; to provide an amusement device formed in sections which are quickly set up and taken apart and packed into a small space so that the device is readily transportable from one location to an-. other; and to provide a device wherein each vehicle is operated by its individual motor which in the case of an electric motor is supplied with current through conductors carried in the standard and sweep and which have plug and socket connections that facilitate connection and disconnection of the parts.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention hereinafter pointed out, I have provided improved structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of an amusement device constructed in accordance with the present invention. 7 1

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through a portion of the vehicle particularly illustrating the driving mechanism therefor.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal plan view of the vehicle chassis, particularly illustrating arrangement of the wheels.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the parts of the standard shown in disassembled spaced relation.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the base of the standard and fragments of the rail particularly illustrating the joints between the rail sections and the manner of interconnecting the rail with the standard which includes means for locking the sections of the rail together.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section through the sweep and a side portion of the vehicle to which it is removably connected.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged section through the standard, the sweep and track.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged section through the swivel connection between the electrical conductor supplying the current and the conductors leading to the operating motor of the vehicle.

Fig. 9 is a plan View partly in section of a portion of the track particularly illustrating the joints between the track sections.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

I designates an amusement device constructed in accordance with the present invention and which includes a tubular standard 2 having a flange 3 at the base thereof for seating on an electrical socket retaining plate 4 which in turn is mounted on a circular base 5 of concavo-convex form and having the rim 6 supported on a floor or ground. The plate 4 carries an electrical socket i that has an axial contact I and an internally threaded sleeve 7 connected with wires 8 and 9 of a cord is having a plug II adapted for connection with a socket (not shown) in a supply circuit. The standard 2 is secured to the base 5 by fastening devices l2 extending through the suitable openings in the flange 3 and plate 4 and into threaded sockets in the base 5. The tubular standard thus seats over the socket 1 and forms an enclosure for a shaft I3 connected with the swivel element I4 of a plug connector I5 which is screwed into the socket I. Extending through the shaft are electrical conductors I6 and I! connected with an axial contact I6 which engages the axial contact I and a screw I6" that is carried by the swivel element I4 and makes contact with a contact ring It on the swivel ele-. ment which in turn rotatingly contacts a threaded ring I4" as at II that is screwed into the sleeve 1. It is thus obvious that the conductors I6 and 1'! form electrical continuations of the wires 8 and 9. The opposite ends of the conductors I6 and I! terminate in spaced contact prongs I8 and I9 suitably insulated with respect to the shaft I3. The shaft I3 is rotatably mounted in the standard in anti-friction bearings indicated at 25 and the standard is closed by a protecting cap 2i mounted on the upper end of the standard and which has an opening 22 to pass the projecting end of the shaft. The prongs I8 and I 9 are connected with a socket element 23 contained in a sleeve 24 engaging over the upper end of the shaft. The sleeve 24 is secured to.

the shaft by a pin 25 extending transversely through the registering openings in the sleeve and shaft and may be readily removed for disconnecting the sweep. The sleeve 24 is attached to a sweep 26 that consists of a tubular arm and provides a housing for conductors 28 and 29 which connect the socket 23 with a plug 39 carried by the inner end of the tubular arm and having contact prongs 3| and 32 to make an electrical connection with a socket 33 on a vehicle 34 later described.

Extending circumferentially of the base of the standard is a monorail 35 comprising a plurality of arcuate sections 36 preferably formed of tubing bent to arcuate shape and adapted to be connected in end to end alignment. The connections are formed by providing one end 31 of each section with a pin 38 suitably attached thereto by welding or the like and which is adapted to extend within the open end 39 of the adjacent section so as to retain the sections in alignment. Each pin 38 and the open end of the adjacent section are provided with registering openings 40 and 4! respectively for passing the hooked end 42 of a stay rod 43 having a hook 44 on its inner end engaged with the openings 45 formed in the marginal edge of the base 5. The stay rods are preferably in sections 46 and 41 as illustrated, that are connectedtogether by a turnbuckle 48 so as to adjust position of the rail with respect to the standard. It is thus obvious that the stay rods not only anchor the rails in fixed relation to the base but they also provide means whereby the sections are pinned together,

The vehicle as simulates an automobile or racing car and includes a platform-like chassis 49 having spaced longitudinal side sills 50 and carrying shafts 52 and 53 arranged in angular relation to support wheels 5 and 55 at the proper angle corresponding with the curvature of therail. The shafts are anchored .to the side sills by bolts 55 and the Wheels are rotatable on the shafts in slot-like openings 51 and 58 in chassis 39 as best shown in Fig. 3. The wheels are provided with grooved peripheries 59 conforming to the shape of the top cross section of the rail so that they engage the respective sides thereof to maintain the wheels on the track. The chassis carries a body 68 containing a seat 6| for an occupant and forming an enclosure for a motor J52 which in the illustrated instance is an electric motor and has a base 63 attached to the platform of the vehicle chassis preferably at a point to the rear of the seat. The armature shaft of the motor has a pulley 64 aligning with a larger pulley G5 on a countershaft 6B. The countershaft B5 is carried transversely between brackets 67 mounted within the body on the respective sides of the vehicle and supported from the chassis platform as shown in Fig. 2. Also carried on the countershaft alongside of the pulley 65 is a smaller pulley 68 registering with a pulley 69 fixed to the side of the vehicle wheel 5d. Operatingover the motor pulley 64 and over the countershaft pulley 65 is an endless belt H! for driving the countershaft 66, the belt being tensioned by a suitable tensioning device which includes an idler pulley H riding on a run of the belt. The wheel 54 is driven from the countershaft by an endless belt '12 operating over the pulleys 68 and G9, the belt being tensioned by a tensioning device including a pulley 13 similar to thetensioning devicepreviously described.

Fixed to the side of the vehicle facing the standard 2 is a sleeve-like socket 14 adapted to receive the free end of the sweep 26 which is removablyretained therein by a .pin similar to the pin at-the' opposite end of the arm previously described. "The member '14 contains the electrical socket-33 to make connection with the prongs 3| and52 of the plug 35 and which is connected by conductors H which connect a speed control switch 78 in circuit with the motor, theswitch 18 being mounted in convenient reach of the operator.

While I have particularly provided for electrical operation of the vehicle on the monorail, it is-obvious that the vehicle may be provided with other forms of prime movers such as internal combustion engines without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In installing the device the standard 2 is mounted in the desired position with the base 5 resting upon the ground on which the monorail is to be laid. The sections 36 of rail are then interconnected in end to end alignment with the pin 32% on the end of one section sliding into the open end 35 of the other section. The stay rod sections ii are then passed through the registering openings 30 and M in the rail sections and pins 38 and brought into position so that they may be connected with the stay rod sections 46 by the turnbuckles 48 and the hooked ends 44 are hooked into the openings of the base. The turnbuckles 6.8 may then be adjusted to tighten the parts in assembly and adjust the circular position of the track relative to the base.

The sweep 25 is then applied to the projecting end of the rotating shaft l3 so that the socket 23 carried thereby engages the prongs I8 and I9 to complete the electrical connection at this point. The pin 25 is then applied by inserting it through the openings in the sweep supporting sleeve and shaft as shown in Fig. '7. The vehicle 34 is then mounted with the grooved wheels thereof engaging on the monorail. The outer end of the sweep is then engaged in the socket-like sleeve 14 with the prongs 3i and 32 of the plug 35 engaging the electrical contacts of the socket 33. The pin '!5 is then applied completing the assembly. The plug II on the cord H3 may then be connected with the source of current supply and the device is ready for operation.

The occupant upon seating himself in the vehicle closes the switch 18 to energize the motor 52 which drives the wheel 5d .at reduced speeds incidental to the differential size of the pulleys. The wheel thus provides traction on the monorail 35 whereby the vehicle is caused to move in a circular path stabilized by the sweep.

In disassembling the device for moving it to another location, the pins 25 and 15 are readily removed to disconnect the vehicle 34 from the sweep and the sweep 25 from the standard 2. The stay rods .43 are then removed from the base 5 and the outer ends disengaged from the sections 36 of the circular monorail 35. The sections 36 may then be separated by sliding the pin 38 of one section out of engagement with the open end 39 of the adjacent section. The parts are then readily packed and transported to another locationer packedawayfor storage purposes.

From the foregoing it is obvious that I have provided an amusement device of the merry-goround or carrousel type which is .of simple and inexpensive construction, safe in operation, and readily portable so that it may-bemoved from one location to another or packed away .when not in use.

What I .claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In .a device of the character described, a monorail for forming a circular path including arcuate sections, each havingmeans on one end engaging in an open end of an adjacent section, a standard having a base portion located substantially centrally of saidcircular path, stay rods connecting the monorail 'with the base of the standard, and turnbuckles in the stay rods .for adjusting the monorail concentrically with the standard.

2. In' a device of the character described, a monorail for forming a circular track including arcuate sections, each having a. pin projecting from one end and a socket extending inwardly from the other end and in position to receive the pin on an adjacent section when the sections are in position forming the circular track, a standard having a base substantially centrally of the circular track, said pins and open ends of the sections having registering openings, and stay rods extending through said openings and having connection with the base of the standard to maintain said base in concentric relation with the track.

3. In a device of the character described, a monorail including arcuate sections for forming a circular track and having slip-apart connections at adjacent ends thereof adapted to interengage when the sections are moved into end to end registry when forming said circular track, a standard having a base located substantially centrally of the circular track, and stay rods conmeeting the monorail with the base of the standard and extending through the slip-apart connections to retain the sections in assembly and to retain the track and standard in concentric relation.

4. A device of the character described, a tubular standard having a base, a shaft rotatable in the standard, electrical conductors carried by the shaft, a tubular sweep having a removable connection with the shaft, electrical conductors fixed relatively to the base, means swivelly connecting the fixed conductors in electrical contact with the conductors of the shaft, conductors carried by the sweep, an electrical connection between the shaft and sweep conductors, a rail encircling the standard in outwardly spaced relation therewith, a vehicle on the rail, means removably connecting the sweep with the vehicle, a motor carried by said vehicle for powering the vehicle, and means associated with the last named connection for removably connecting the sweep conductors in circuit with the motor.

5. In a device of the character described, a tubular standard having a base, a shaft rotatable in the standard, electrical conductors carried by the shaft, a tubular sweep having a removable connection with the shaft, electrical conductors fixed relatively to the base, means swivelly connecting the fixed conductors in electrical contact with the conductors of the shaft, conductors carried by the sweep, and a separable electrical connection between the shaft and sweep conductors.

6. A device of the character described, a tubular standard having a base, a shaft rotatable in the standard, electrical conductors carried by the shaf, a tubular sweep having a. removable connection with the shaft, electrical conductors fixed relatively to the base, means swivelly connecting the fixed conductors in electrical contact with the conductors of the shaft, conductors carried by the sweep, an electrical connection between the shaft and sweep conductors, a rail encircling the standard in outwardly spaced relation therewith, a vehicle on the rail, an electrical circuit in the Vehicle, means removably connecting the sweep with the vehicle, and means associated with the last named connection for removably connecting the sweep conductors with said vehicle circuit.

LESTER J. MILBOURN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany June 26, 1885 Number Number 

